CITY DEAL SNUB FALLOUT
THE Federal Government has been slammed for failing to deliver more than $150 million in Geelong City Deal funding needed to progress a series of major projects.
The Coalition was criticised for leaving the Geelong City Deal out of its 2018-19 Federal Budget on Tuesday — despite the Victorian Budget committing $153.2 million and seeking matched funding for the joint project days earlier.
The City Deal — an agreement between all levels of government to fund a series of major projects for Geelong — is set to include construction of the long-awaited convention centre and the delivery of city improvement works and the next stage of the Shipwreck coast Masterplan.
While the expected chorus of Labor MPs slammed the snub, Geelong stakeholders also voiced disappointment and surprise.
“After the build-up by the Prime Minister and his government about the importance of a future City Deal for Gee- long and the Great Ocean Road, it was odd that no funds appear to have been set aside in last night’s Budget,” G21 chief executive Elaine Carbines said.
“We fear that much-needed infrastructure across the region, such as a Geelong Convention Centre and tourism upgrades on the Great Ocean Road, will be delayed by years, or placed in jeopardy.”
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood said the city would need to show patience for a federal share of the City Deal.
“We were certainly expecting some commitment to the City Deal. The fact that there hasn’t been, while it would have been good to see a commitment, there’s certainly going to be more opportunities,” Cr Harwood said.
Acting Geelong tourism chief Brett Ince said the snub was “a bit of a speed bump”.
Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson bore the brunt of the local reaction to the funding snub from Labor rivals.
“On the City Deal, last week we saw a state Labor Government delivering for Geelong, this week we’ve seen Sarah Henderson fail again,” Corio MP Richard Marles said. “I don’t think the Federal Government is serious about it.”
Corangamite Labor candidate Libby Coker said: “This Budget is a hoax. Sarah Henderson has hoodwinked our community.”
Ms Henderson said the Commonwealth’s City Deal commitments would be announced later in the year.
She also signalled that funding for Avalon Airport and the Geelong rail duplication project should be included, projects the Federal Government committed funding to in the Budget, but not under the City Deal banner.